Chatting with the kids from Alexander

Disney provided me with an expense paid trip to Los Angeles for the #VeryBadDayEvent and #DisneyInHomeEvent in exchange for my review of the events of the trip.  No other compensation is given. All opinions & experiences are my own. Photos courtesy of Disney.

Their takeaway from filming Alexander…

Kerris : This was our take away.

Ed : This, this friendship.

Dylan : Aw!

Ed : Yeah.

Dylan : Get out. No, really, though, I mean I– it’s– honestly, it– that’s true because I can’t– now that we’ve done this, I can’t imagine not doing it because we have become such good friends that I literally can’t imagine not having the experiences that we’ve had after filming. Like it’s so– it’s such, a strange thought that we all just happ– it was kinda like fate. It’s kinda weird to say. But it really was fate because we’re really close.

Kerris : It’s cool to have a movie that, you know, you are proud of and you enjoyed making. And then literally to walk away and go I’m like– my life would be completely different if I hadn’t done that movie ’cause I wouldn’t have met the people I met and had the experiences that I have. So, yeah, we’re– it’s very dear to our hearts I think.

Dylan : Definitely.

On Steve Carell

Ed : He wasn’t funny– no, I’m kidding. He was like the funniest person. He could make anything sound fun, anything.

Dylan : It’s effortless. It’s effortless. He can say what he’s having for lunch and you’re just like in tears on the floor.

Ed : Yeah, you could just look at him. And he’ll give you one look. And you will just be in uncontrollable laughter.

Kerris : Yeah, and he’s so like one thing is he’s so smart. He’s such a smart person. I think you have to be that intelligent in order to be that funny because it’s so witty and so like impeccable. So that was really cool. You can just tell by looking at him, like talking to him that’s he’s just so smart. And the wheels are always turning.

On their favorite scene with Steve

Ed : I think the party scene.

Dylan : I’ve been saying the party scene.

Kerris : Party scene.

Ed : Yeah, it was really cool.

Kerris : Party scene was so fun.

Dylan : Yeah, I mean it was just  like, what, 200 people and animals and swimming and music and food and just-

Kerris : It was so cool. We were there for a long time. So it sort of became like a home to us, you know? So, yeah, that was so fun.

On Filming The Party Scene

Ed : It took a lot of dancing, a lot of barbequing.

Dylan : There was three– wasn’t the part– didn’t the party take three days?

Kerris : Yeah, we were at a set out in Newhall for two weeks, and then we did the party, like three consecutive nights.  ’cause there were so many things to cover. There were like, you know, his shots and all of–

Ed : There was dancing, barbecuing, DJ’ing.

Dylan : Except the animals–

Kerris : Thunder from Down Under. The animals– yeah, yeah, I don’t know if you’ve  heard of them. So yeah, it took a lot of coverage and a lot of– of days to do. But it was actually fun.

Ed : It didn’t even feel like we were working.

Kerris : Yeah, we had a party. We were all just dancing, and there’s one shot that we laughed over every time because it’s like– it’s on Jen and Steve. And you can see past us. I don’t know what we’re doing. We’re just like dancing the whole time. It’s like so awkward. But I mean hopefully no one notices it.

Dylan : Now they will.

Kerris : Now you will. So–

Dylan : Yeah, and then the– then it goes directly on us.

Ed on his American Accent

Ed : That was pretty– it was pretty hard. But also kind of easy at the same time ’cause I’m– I was brought up on American film. Because there’s a lot of American TV, a lot of American film in Australia. So it’s not like it’s a completely different accent that I’m kind of thinking, well, it’s American. I knew what it was. But it was a little rough around the edges. Actually, it was really bad. So– [LAUGHTER] so I had training. And I just learned all the little tips and tricks on just to sound authentic.

Kerris : Sometimes I would forget that you were Australian. Well, I mean I knew, but like ’cause I forget that when I’m talking to him now like after we were filming it was just like, oh, that’s your real voice. You have an Australian accent ’cause it was so good. It was so impeccable.

Producer Lisa Henson on casting Ed

That was the strangest coincidence and it is a very strange coincidence because as a character he’s obsesses with all things Australian.  And then, and yet he was an Australian actor who had to get rid of his Australian accent to do the role.  [LAUGHS]  And, ah, you know, he only gets to say one thing in an Australian accent in the film, when he says, Thanks mate.

On keeping their composure

Kerris : The car scene.

Ed : Yeah, there was one scene during the car that was completely improvised. And we’d get– the director just said– ’cause I would walk around set going brr-brr-brr, just making the stupid noises. And Miguel the director said I just want all of you to do it. It was kind of what? And then so we all did it. And Steve started doing it. And you can see in the background everyone’s laugh. And like there was blood in our faces ’cause we’re moving our shoulders like that. But when– it’s so hard to keep a straight face.

Kerris : That was so– like I don’t even know– like Steve’s instrument that he was like– he was like ya-ya-ya-ya-ya. [LAUGHTER]

Ed : And he’s like going.

Kerris : Yeah. And like I was playing the trumpet. And Ed was just like, I don’t even know. And so I-

Ed : I don’t know either.

Kerris : No, it was amazing. I just don’t remember.

Dylan : I’m the only one that didn’t have to do anything in that scene. So–

Kerris : Yeah, but you had to keep a straight face though kind of. So, yeah, so that was all the car scenes ’cause we were in such close quarters. I think we got kind of loopy at one point.

How they made Steve cry

Ed : That was the genius minds of Kerris and Justine Dorsey. And because all– all the way during the set we had this– on the party, we always had the song Beds are Burning by Midnight Oil. Is that it? I should know. I’m an Aussie.  [LAUGHTER]

Kerris : You’re the Aussie.

Ed : And we always had that. So that was always in our heads. So the song was to the tune of that. But it was all about working with him and all about his character. And it was really cool. We all sang it. And, yeah, he did get really emotional. It was really nice.

Dylan : He got emotional.

Kerris : Yeah, it was one of the most special moments ever ’cause–

Ed : I have to say, yeah, it was really sad, though. You know, because it was his last day. It was near the end. And it was all kind of–

Kerris : Yeah, it was very emotional. And, uh, the whole crew was there on the set. And, you know, we got to like sing it together. We had the lyrics and everything. And they had a little speaker that they let us use to play the song. And it was– it was such a like special moment.

Ed : That was a really special moment.

Dylan : It was amazing.

Ed : Yeah.

Kerris : Always makes me happy.

 Fun Soundtrack Tidbits:

Their song writing ability was limited to just a song for Steve Carell. Both Dylan and Kerris contributed to the Alexander soundtrack. Surf, Surf, Don’t Drown is a song by Dylan Minnette’s band, The Narwhals. Kerris Dorsey and her sister Justine wrote and performed the “Best Worst Day Ever”.

I hope after learning more about the kids of Alexander, you are ready to see their on screen hilarity!

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, VERY BAD DAY opens in theaters nationwide on October 10th!